Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday (June 20, 2025) inaugurated the Gorakhpur Link Expressway built at a cost of over ₹7,000 crore. Calling the inauguration in Azamgarh a game changer, Mr. Adityanath stressed that U.P. is no longer a ‘BIMARU’ State but is emerging as an ‘Expressway State’.

BIMARU is a term used in reference to a group of States, including U.P. and Madhya Pradesh, that were historically considered to be lagging in terms of social and economic development.

The Chief Minister added that Azamgarh, which once faced an identity crisis, has now transformed into a stronghold of indomitable courage. The change witnessed in the region owing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance and the efforts of the ‘double-engine government’ has transformed Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Adityanath said.

Inaugurating the 91.35 km long Gorakhpur Link Expressway built at a cost of ₹7,283 crore, Mr. Adityanath said the expressway will provide world-class connectivity not only to Azamgarh but also to adjoining districts of Sant Kabir Nagar, Ambedkar Nagar and Gorakhpur. “After 2017, U.P. focused on strengthening its infrastructure. Coming out of its BIMARU tag, the State is playing a key role as the growth engine of the nation,” he pointed out.

‘Before 2017’

Touching upon the condition of U.P. before 2017, Mr. Adityanath said the State lacked both a developmental agenda and basic amenities. “Any scheme for the welfare of the people failed to reach their rightful beneficiaries. Traditional industries of U.P. were on the brink of extinction, and a criminal culture of ‘One District, One Mafia’ thrived under the previous governments,” the Chief Minister added.

He said development projects started in previous regimes were marred by corruption and criminal interference, while in contrary the situation drastically changed under the BJP government in the State. “However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the State has undergone a remarkable transformation, emerging as a mafia-free, riot-free, and conducive environment for both tourism and investment,” Mr. Adityanath said.

Highlighting the growth of expressways in U.P., the Chief Minister added that the State boasts of the 340 km Purvanchal Expressway, the 300 km Bundelkhand Expressway, and now the 91 km Gorakhpur Link Expressway that is operational, with work underway on six more expressways. “These [expressways] will bring massive change in the development outlook of U.P.,” he said.